Mineral Resources External Research Program (MRERP) 2013-2014

In August 2012 the USGS Mineral Resources Program (MRP) announced a grant and/or cooperative agreement opportunity through its Mineral Resources External Research Program (MRERP) to any individual who had the ability to conduct research consistent with MRP goals and who was not employed by a Federal agency. Applicants can be affiliated (but are not required to be affiliated) with universities, State agencies, Tribal governments or organizations, industry, or other private sector groups. The FY 2013 MRERP received twenty-nine proposals that were reviewed by a panel of 6 research scientists (2 from USGS and 4 external to the USGS).

The FY 2013 MRERP solicitation included a call for research proposals to address one or more of the following topics:

The Mid-continent Rift of the U.S.—Multidisciplinary studies to image and characterize the mineral resource potential of this significant crustal feature.

Alaska as a mineral resource frontier—Core science investigations as a foundation for documenting mineral resource potential.

Hyperspectral imaging or other geophysical investigations of selected regions of the U.S.—State-of-the-art tools for mineral resource and mineral environmental investigations.

As a result of the 2013 Federal budget sequestration, the FY 2013 MRERP was suspended. Because sequestration occurred well into the fiscal year, FY 2013 MRERP proposals had already been solicited, received, and evaluated by the review panel by the time sequestration went into effect. It was announced that if funding was available for the MRERP in FY 2014, the USGS would honor its commitment to consider the highest ranked proposals received in the FY 2013 solicitation. Consequently, the MRERP did not announce a request for proposals for Fiscal Year 2014, but the MRP has decided to proceed with funding of the top-ranked proposals received for the FY 2013 MRERP.

A total of $208,010 was awarded to the top four ranked proposals. The USGS is pleased to announce that it will support the following four research projects in the FY 2013/14 MRERP, listed in alphabetical order by principal investigator(s):